Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Top 10 Stupidest Security Tricks

Resource: http://www.webmasterjm.com/index.php/security-information/top-10-stupidest-security-tricks

10. Use the cheapest hosting provider you can find.

Preferably use a shared server that hosts hundreds of other sites, some of which are high-traffic porn sites. Don't check the list of recommended hosting providers.

9. Don't waste time with regular backups.

Maybe the hosting provider will help you out.

8. Don't waste time adjusting PHP and Software settings for increased security.

Hey, the install was brain-dead easy. How bad could the rest be? Worry about those details only if there's a problem.

7. Use the same username and password for everything.

Use the same username and password for your on-line bank account, Your administrator account, Amazon account, Yahoo account, etc. Hey, who has time to keep track of so many passwords? And anyway, since you don't change passwords, it's easier to just use the same one all the time, everywhere.





6. Install your brand new beautiful webmasterjm powered site, and celebrate a job well done.

Don't worry about it again. After all, if you don't make any more changes, what can go wrong?

5. Do all upgrades on the live site right away.

Who needs a development and testing server anyway? If an installation fails, you'll just uninstall it again. That will hopefully also undo any damage the installation caused.

4. Trust third-party extensions.

Install all the cool-looking stuff you can find. Anyone smart enough to write an extension will provide perfect code that blocks every known exploit attempt, now and forever.

3. Don't worry about updating to the latest version of your softwares

Hey, nothing has gone wrong so far, and if it ain't broke don't fix it! Same plan for the third-party extensions. Too much work; life's a beach.

2. When your site gets cracked, panic your way to Webmaster Joe.

Start a new tickett with a very familiar title: "My Site's Been Hacked! (sic)" Be sure not to leave relevant information out about your problem out.

1. Once your site's been cracked, fix the defaced index.php file and assume all else is well.

Don't check raw logs, change your passwords, remove the entire directory and rebuild from clean backups, or take any other overly paranoid-seeming action. When the attackers return the next day, scream loudly that you've been "hacked again," and it's all webmasterjm.com's fault. Ignore the fact that removing a defaced file is not even step one in the difficult process of fully recovering a cracked site.



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